Minnesota Zoo helps students learn about animals in other languages

Yinghua students listen intently, their zoo passports in hand and about to be stamped, to an explanation on tropical fish along the Tropics Trail. Yinghua Academy in Minneapolis sent 500 students to participate in the first Chinese Language Day at the Minnesota Zoo in Apple Valley Wednesday, February 20, 2013. (Pioneer Press: John Doman)

Last week, more than 500 students from Yinghua Academy poured into the Minnesota Zoo, excited to put their budding Chinese language skills to use discussing animals from snow monkeys to starfish.

Sixth-graders such as Katherine St. Martin-Norburg of St. Paul set up presentations in which their classmates could play a game or hear a song developed by students about one of the zoo's animals. The visit was part of the zoo's popular World Language Days, which draw thousands of students each February to learn about animals in languages such as Spanish, Japanese and American Sign Language.

Katherine, who attends the Minneapolis Chinese-language immersion charter school, said she enjoyed explaining snow monkeys to other visitors.

"It's fun," she said. "At first, I was surprised we were coming here."

The number of student visitors to the zoo is beginning to rebound after falling 15 percent during the recession when school leaders cut field trips to save money. Zoo leaders responded by expanding popular programs such as language days while developing customized learning experiences.

This year, the zoo estimates 80,000 students from preschool to college will visit the Apple Valley zoo.

Carol Strecker, director of education for the zoo, says schools have a lot of demands for their time and resources, so she needs to demonstrate how the facility and exhibits fit in with curriculum.

"We've really tried to up our game," Strecker said.

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"It doesn't make sense to offer programming to teachers if it doesn't meet their needs."

The zoo still focuses on biology, ecology and conservation, Strecker says, but looks for unique ways such as language days to deliver the lessons.

"They're still learning it; they're just learning it in another language," she said.

Sue Berg, executive director of Yinghua, said her charter school's parent-teacher organization jumped at the chance to help fund the students' trip to the zoo.

First grade teacher Miss Li-chen Lin called for her student's attention to speak about the Bali Minah birds as they travelled the Tropics Trail. (Pioneer Press: John Doman)

Finding distinct opportunities to use new language skills is essential to immersion programs.

"This is an opportunity for students to apply their skills in real life," Berg said. "That's the end goal, conversation and interaction."

Besides expanding popular programs, zoo officials are building ones that fit educators' changing needs. Strecker is working on a STEM curriculum that will meet growing demand for science, technology, engineering and math courses.

It will focus on the relationship between animals and engineering, Strecker said, such as how beavers build dams or how humans study animal behavior to solve problems.

For schools that can't afford a trip, the zoo started a program that helps pair districts with charitable donors. It also is working on ways to reach students right in their classrooms.

Each year, the zoo reaches about 25,000 students in the metro through outreach programs such as its Zoomobile. Now, it is exploring virtual visits through teleconferencing to connect with more schools.

The goal of this outreach is to expose as many students as possible to what the zoo has to offer.

"There is strong evidence that out-of-school experiences with science at institutions like ours have a real impact," Strecker said. "You have to be completely in tune with teachers and understand what they need and what they are going through."

Gina Goralski, the zoo's school programs director, said students light up when they walk through the facility's doors. Animals are an easy way for students and teachers to connect.

"Animals are a huge attraction for everyone," she said. "Everyone loves them. It's a way to get kids to have a good time and to learn without realizing they're doing it."